Artificial limb



G. H. SIHRODES.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. 28. I921.

Patented Aug. 1, 1922.

INVENTORQ y I I ARTIFICIAL LIME.

Application filed December 28, 1953-1.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, Gnoacn IIAMILTON Sianoons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Porterville, county of Tulare, and State of'California, have invented certain new and useful'lmprovements in Artificial Limbs; of "whichthe following; is declared to be a full,- clear, and exact description, enabling those skilled in theart to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to artificial limbs and more particularly to improvements therein, calculated to replace a natural limb and substitute therefor in a satisfactory manner. withoutthe introduction of. complicated'mechanism or the necessity of nu merous joints.

My invention consists in the scientific application of mechanism to closely imitate the muscles in a human limb and the various parts which comprise this invention are designed to operate separately and co-ordinately to allow for a certain amount of movement under pressure only and to return in all cases to its natural position.

My invention consists in a combination of wires and bands suitably positioned. and arranged to retain the predetermined shape and at the same time allow for the required amount of movement to enable the device to operate flexibly and in a manner closely approaching the act-ion of the human foot and limb. The wires which comprise my device are designed to represent the muscles of the human limb and their action is substantially represented in the following specification.

My invention eliminates oints and all complicated mechanism while possessing in a more or less restricted manner flexibility on the order of the movement of the human limb. The wires forming the rear or posterior of my device are adapted to take the place of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles which form the tendo achillis or the heel cords in the human limb, and in the front or anterior surface of my device, the wires represent the tibialis anticus (or front and side of the leg.) The wires forming the anterior surface extend forward in the foot part in a manner to form artificial toes or substitutes therefor, and at a. point representing the approximate positions of the joints for toes each respective wire is coiled in acomplete circle and redirected on its former line to the extremity and then returns back upon itself in a manner forming an artificial limb specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1%2%.

Serial are. 525,500.

ertremity adapted to replace the flexor hallicis long us (or muscle extending to the great toe) and the flexor longus digatorum muscles.

The sole of. the foot is providedby the return'wires after they have been bent at the extremity of each artificial toe and each respective wire after forming said sole'forms a part of the heel and then forms the pos terior surface. as hereinbefore described.

Amechanical support is provided extendin ofrom the heel. around the upper part of' the arch and being attached to each respective wire and in principle adapted to replace the transcruoial ligament. j

' Further objects, advantages, and features of novelty are hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification:

Fig". 1 is a side elevation broken away of the human muscular arrangement in the foot.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation on the loop at each artificial toe joint.

F a is an enlarged elevation of the crimped portion in each wire, forming the posterior of my device.

Referring more particularly to the figures. represents the upper part of an artificial limb, following conventional lines and adapted preferablv to be laced in position by the lace 6. Thus upper part 5 is held in its proper position by means of two side support members 7, attached to 5 by means of rivets 8. The members 7 are fulcrumed by means of a pin 9 at 10 on either side of the band 11. 1212 are the wires forming the lower portion of my device, such wires being anchored respectively at 1.313 and being attached to a pin 14. at lef The wires formingthe anterior surface being attached to a metal arch 16 at 16 such wires then being looped at 20, beingbent back upon themselves at 21 in a manner to form artificial toes passing under said loop 20 at 20. All the said wires being respectively held in position by a band 19 adapted to prevent spreading when a weight is placed upon said wires. 18 represents the instep of the foot formed from said wires 12 after having formed the toes as just set forth. 1? is the heelv formed by said wires. 17 represents points of attachment to the metal band 16 adapted to maintain the respective wires in position. 15 repre.

sents a Wavy or corrugated portion positioned With each TBSPGCtlVQWlI'G just above' the heel in a manner to provide for a certain degree of a reciprocal movement in said artificial foot. 12 represents the Wires forming the posterior surface of my artificial limb such Wires being the same as those represented by 12, after the same have been bent as hereinbefore' set forth to form the various parts of the artificial limb.

I claim: a

1. An artificial limb consisting of conventional upper construction and in combination therewith a plurality of Wires forming the lower limb construction and foot, and a plurality of bands surrounding said Wires and attached thereto in a manner to maintain a predetermined shape, all substantially as set forth.

2. An artificial limb composed of Wires anchored at their ends respectively to a band beingsuitably spaced and maintained in position by'reinforcement as set forth, the Wires forming the anterior surface adapted toalso form the arch, each respective Wire having a loop positioned near the foot eX- tremity and adapted to form artificial toe joints, said Wires returning along the bottom replacing in an'artificial manner the fiexor hallacus longus muscle forming the heel, be-

ing crimped above the heel in a manner to represent and substitute for the tendo calcaneus cord and to then form the posterior surface of my artificial limb.

3. An artificial limb. construction comprising a conventional upper construction and in combination therewith a plurality of Wires forming the lower construction including the foot in which Wires form the anterior surface, the arch, artificial toes, with a loop in each respective Wire representing a toe joint, each of said looped Wires returning along thebottom of said artificial foot and forming the instep, the heel, and the posterior surface of said limb With corrugations positioned slightly above but in close proximity to said heel, substantially as hereinbefore set forth. v

GEORGE HAMILTON SHRODES. 

